The pioneering research consultancy PDR (The National Centre for Product Design and Development Research) based at UWIC are celebrating a victorious year after wining an iF Award in the highly competitive medical category for the "Shakerscope" - an innovative, multi-purpose medical device and light source that is powered by shaking. The iF seal is a guarantee for the highest design quality, critically judged and selected on the basis of a comprehensive catalogue of criteria by a jury composed of top international designers.

The Shakerscope, designed and developed for two consultant anesthetists in Swansea, is the first medical device to use kinetic energy to generate electricity and is set to transform the efficiency of medical handling in difficult danger environments.

It has interchangeable device heads also developed by PDR and can be used for essential eye, ear and throat examinations. The Shakerscope offers significant advantages to users in cost, space and weight compared to conventional devices that require a separate power and light source for each application. It does not need a main power source, batteries or a light bulb and is ideal for use in developing countries, remote locations and difficult conditions. Powered by kenetic energy, shaking the device for 30 seconds generates enough light for 20 minutes of use. Interchangeable instrument heads allow the device to be fitted on to a wide range of basic but vital medical instruments including an ophthalmoscope for eye examination, an otoscope for ear examination and a laryngoscope to insert breathing tubes for anesthesia or resuscitation.
If the shaken light is not required immediately, the charge will be stored for several weeks until required. The light is provided by a light emitting diode (LED) which has a lifespan of 100,000 hours.

The device incorporates a programmable microprocessor unit that makes the system highly efficient, indicates to the user when the device is fully charged, and provides a warning when charge is starting to run low.

ShakerScope was designed and developed by Swansea-based consultant anesthetists Dr. David Williams and Dr. John Dingley.

ShakerScope is a spin out company from UWS (University of Wales Swansea) Ventures and is based in Swansea's Technium Digital Centre.

Two Welsh companies - PDR of Cardiff and E2L of Monmouth - have been involved in the design and development of ShakerScope, which has also benefited from support of the Welsh Assembly Government, the Technium network, MediWales and Welsh Innovations in Health Care.

For more information go to http://www.shakerscope.com/theshakerscope.htm.

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